15. MATT JOHNSON
Position: Midfielder
Size: 192cm, 81kg
Club: Subiaco/North Beaches/Western Australia
AFL player comparison: Scott Pendlebury
Recruiters were hoping to see Johnson have a strong finish to his 2021 campaign – and he delivered in September and October. He won the WA best on ground medal for his performance against SA at Optus Stadium in an AFL Grand Final day curtain-raiser then had a terrific draft combine, placing third nationally in the agility test, sixth in the standing vertical jump and seventh in the running vertical while running the 20m sprint in under three seconds. A tall midfielder with ridiculously good composure in traffic, Johnson got a taste of all three WAFL competitions in 2021. He starred at colts level, struggled at league level but found his rhythm in the reserves, averaging 23 disposals and six marks from his final three games (which included two finals). Johnson is looming as a top-10 bolter, with Hawthorn seriously considering taking him with its first pick. Then if Fremantle doesn’t take him with one of its two picks, it’s hard to see him slipping beyond the Eagles’ selection.
Sinn hopeful on draft | 04:03
14. JOSH SINN
Position: Medium defender
Size: 186cm, 78kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons/Old Xaverians/Vic Metro
AFL player comparison: Adam Saad
Blink and you’ll miss this speedy footballer, who’s a genuine 70m player in that he carries the ball 20m (at least) then kicks it 50m. Sinn is an explosive, line-breaking half-back with genuine leg speed but has the potential to become a full-time midfielder at AFL level if his aerobic capacity continues to improve. His NAB League numbers in a frustrating, injury-interrupted season weren’t huge, averaging just 17.6 disposals. But his run and carry ability saw him average a combined 6.8 inside 50s and rebound 50s — the most of any player to average fewer than 20 disposals. He was Sandringham’s skipper too, so he possesses strong leadership capabilities. Will go in the first round, but his draft range is wide. Adelaide is the club with the earliest pick linked to him, while Hawthorn, St Kilda and Essendon could also be in the mix.
13. JOSH GOATER
Position: Utility
Size: 190cm, 80kg
Cmeh: Calder Cannons/Sunbury/Sunbury College/Vic Metro
AFL player comparison: Jordan Ridley (as a defender), Xavier Duursma (as a wing/midfielder)
A high-flying, speedy, agile and versatile prospect that looms as a big fan favourite at AFL level. Goater is an athletic yet slightly taller prospect than some of the other midfielders at the top of his draft class – height that also allows him to play in either 50m arc. Interestingly, Goater won more disposals in defence than in the midfield this season. In his first five NAB League matches, he averaged 21.6 disposals 5.2 clearance as a midfielder then 30.5 disposals, 4.0 intercept marks and 8.5 intercept possessions. Goater is in top-10 contention. Fremantle’s second pick might be the earliest he goes, while any of St Kilda, West Coast, Essendon or Port Adelaide could take him.
12. NASIAH WANGANEEN-MILERA
Position: Wing
Size: 187cm, 71kg
Club: Glenelg/Marion/South Australia
AFL player comparison: Paul Seedsman
As his surname suggests, the South Australian has a great footy pedigree, being the nephew of Essendon and Port Adelaide champion Gavin Wanganeen and the son of Terry Milera, who played 30 games for the Saints last decade. A smooth mover that makes good decisions by foot, Wanganeen-Milera seemed to improve with every game he played in 2021 as he showed off his excellent kicking skills and ability to link teammates between the arcs. He spent the majority of the first half of the season in the SANFL reserves, averaging 15.5 disposals, 3.5 intercept possessions, 4.7 score involvements and 0.4 goals. Wanganeen-Milera then was upgraded to Glenelg’s league team and fitted in with aplomb, averaging 11.0 disposals and 5.0 handball receives. Has bolted into top-10 draft contention – and rightfully so. Adelaide has had a close look at the SA product, but if it bypasses him, Hawthorn has strong interest. St Kilda and Essendon are also in the mix — the latter, no doubt, being a romantic prospect.
11. JYE AMISS
Position: Tall forward
Size: 196cm, 83kg
Club: East Perth/Busselton/Western Australia
AFL player comparison: Harry McKay
Arguably the best key forward in the open draft. He’s blessed with a deadeye left foot kick, strong hands above his head, presence on the lead and great athleticism below his knees for a player of his size. Amiss kicked a WAFL colts season-high 51 goals this season — the most by a player in that competition since 2015 – but just as impressive was the fact he only kicked 15 behinds. Amiss also ranked second in the WAFL colts for contested marks (3.0) and No. 1 for marks inside 50 (3.5). It would be a major surprise if he wasn’t in a Fremantle jumper next year, with the Dockers having a strong, long-time interest in the East Perth product. Ideally, the Dockers would take Amiss with their second top-10 pick, but the Tigers (Pick 7) also have interest in the 196cm prospect and could force the Dockers to pick him earlier – if they want him that desperately.
10. NEIL ERASMUS
Position: Midfielder-forward
Size: 188cm, 80kg
Club: Subiaco/Sorrento-Duncraig/Hale/Western Australia
AFL player comparison: Tim Taranto
A gun junior cricketer that chose footy as his preferred career path, where he’s developed into an exciting player blessed with great footy smarts and strong overhead marking ability. Erasmus had a stunning start to his season and only improved as the year progressed. He was the second-highest ranked player in the WAFL colts, according to Champion Data, and ranked among the top five players for disposals, contested possessions, intercept marks, clearances and score assists. Erasmus averaged 28 disposals from his four WAFL colts games, but showed in last year’s grand final in the same competition that he can be dangerous up forward, kicking four goals as a bottom-ager in Subiaco’s premiership triumph. Hard to see the WA young gun getting past Fremantle (Picks 6 and 8) or West Coast (Pick 10), with the Eagles, especially, a big fan.
9. JOSH GIBCUS
Position: Key defender
Size: 196cm, 87kg
Club: GWV Rebels/Eastpoint/St Pat’s College/Vic Country
AFL player comparison: Jake Lever
The quintessential modern-day defender at 195cm, recruiters can see Gibcus becoming a star second backman at AFL club land that can play man-on-man but also intercept. He was ranked first among defenders who played at least five NAB League matches this season for intercept possessions (7.9) and intercept marks (3.2). Recruiters say his vertical leap is “ridiculous” – highlighted by his 95cm running vertical jump result at the draft combine, which was ranked third nation-wide – while he also has strong aerobic capacity, good footy nous and strong spoiling ability. Initially, Gibcus was looming as a top-five pick, with the Giants and Suns linked to him. Now it’s more likely he slips a few spots — but still to a club holding a top-10 pick. Fremantle and Richmond will consider him, but St Kilda — which really needs a key defender on its list — looms as the most likely destination.
8. MAC ANDREW
Position: Ruck-forward
Size: 200cm, 70kg
Club: Dandenong Stingrays/Berwick/St Joseph’s Ferntree Gully/Vic Country
AFL player comparison: Paddy Ryder
The Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect has probably been the biggest draft board bolter across the season. He would have to put on size once he got to an AFL club and ultimately be a long-term prospect, but Andrew’s athleticism, natural leap, strong hands and ability to play across all thirds of the ground at 200cm excites AFL clubs. Excluding his NAB League match where he got injured, Andrew, who was born in Egypt to Sudanese parents, averaged 15.2 disposals from his five games – the most of any ruckman – according to Champion Data. His hit-out-to-advantage rate of 18.1 per cent was also ranked fourth among the NAB League’s top 50 ruckmen for ruck contests. As the AFL has changed the in-draft NGA bidding rules for 2021 – clubs with existing links to multicultural and Indigenous Academy players can’t match bids inside the top 20 selections – the Dees aren’t getting their hands on Andrew – unless they trade up into the top five. Gold Coast appears poised to take him with its first selection. If it doesn’t — and that would be a shock now — expect a few clubs to try and trade up the order to get him.
7. JOSH WARD
Position: Midfielder
Size: 181cm, 74kg
Club: Northern Knights/Fitzroy/Melbourne Grammar/Vic Metro
AFL player comparison: Dan Hannebery
One for SuperCoach owners to keep an eye on when he hits AFL club land. Ward is one of the best well-rounded midfielders at the top of the draft class with an ability to find the ball both in and outside the contest. The left-footer averaged 30.2 disposals in the NAB League — the second-most behind only Nick Daicos — and finished the season superbly with 33-plus disposals from his last three matches to be named captain of the competition Team of the Year. Recruiters earlier in the year had some doubts over his ability to hit the scoreboard — he kicked two behinds and failed to kick a goal in the NAB League — but he managed 3.3 from two trial matches. He loves to run and carry, is a polished distributor and has the potential to play AFL footy early in 2022. Where he goes is becoming a big talking point among club recruiters. Ward — a Hawthorn supporter whose great grandfather Alex Lee played 31 games for the club between 1933 and 1935 — has been strongly linked to the Hawks for weeks. But the Hawks are also keeping tabs on other outside ball-winners, meaning Fremantle, Richmond and St Kilda could then snap Ward up. He could slide a little more than first thought, but he’s not getting past the Power at Pick 12.
6. BEN HOBBS
Position: Midfielder
Size: 183cm, 79kg
Club: GWV Rebels/Horsham Demons/Ballarat Clarendon College/Vic Country
AFL player comparison: Taylor Adams
The best pure inside midfielder and contested possession-winner in the draft class. Hobbs is a master at winning the footy at the coalface and his quick hands make him a threat at stoppages. Yet unlike a lot of inside midfielders, Hobbs has great composure with the ball when in tight, often opting against thumping the ball forward by foot. Excluding one match where he got injured, he averaged 29.2 disposals, 6.2 clearances and kicked 0.8 goals in the NAB League. But Hobbs was arguably more impressive in the trial matches for Vic Country, averaging 31.5 disposals and 1.5 goals from those two games. Would be a major surprise if he slid outside the top 10, with Richmond (Pick 7) looming as the most likely destination if the Suns pass on him (which is looking more likely).